Phrase guide

turn the tide

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To undergo a change or reversal of a general trend.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

cause a complete reversal of the circumstances

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The tables are turned now that the Republicans are in power!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: turn the tables

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change by reversal, turn, reverse

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: het tij keren — to make a change
  • Finnish: kääntää — to make a change
  • Finnish: keikauttaa — to make a change
  • German: das Blatt wenden — to make a change
  • Icelandic: valda straumhvörfum — to make a change
  • Icelandic: snúa í hag — to make a change
  • Latvian: mainīt notikumu gaitu — to make a change
  • Russian: поворачивать ход (povoračivatʹ xod) — to make a change
  • Russian: переломить ход (perelomitʹ xod) — to make a change